About Half of 'Miracle Babies' Have Disabilities by Age 6

The Washington Post ^ | January 6, 2005 | From News Services

[TXBubba]

Nearly half of all infants born extremely premature show no significant learning and physical disabilities by the time they reach school age, the largest such study has found.

[Eepsy]

NEWSFLASH! More than half of all infants born extremely premature have no significant learning and physical disabilities by the time they reach school age, the largest such study has found.

[TXBubba]

Yeah, what you said!

[SittinYonder]

Where does that come from? It contradicts the article.

[TXBubba]

Does it?

[SittinYonder]

Thank you for correcting that.

[SittinYonder]

Yes, nearly half do show signs; more than half don't.

[TXBubba]

Okay. I agree with you. Thank you for your correction.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Medical advances have allowed doctors to save earlier and smaller babies.

BS. I was born 34 years ago. I was 2 months premature. I've had CP since birth and lost 80% of my hearing in both ears by the time I turned 6. Aside from that, I'm pretty damn healthy and fortunate to have lived a helluva lot longer than the doctors expected me to 34 years ago.

[Hank Rearden]

Yes, nearly half do show signs; more than half don't.

How do you derive that statement? Here's what the article said:
They found that 46 percent had severe or moderate disabilities such as cerebral palsy, vision or hearing loss and learning problems; 34 percent were mildly disabled; and 20 percent had no disabilities.

I read that as 80% with problems (46% severe), 20% without.

[neverdem]

That happened to be the first title in a regular feature called "FINDINGS". I was most interested in the research on ALS, aka Lou Gehrig's disease. A friend of mine was diagnosed with it.

[SittinYonder]

Nearly half of all infants born extremely premature have significant learning and physical disabilities by the time they reach school age, the largest such study has found.

More than half of all infants born extremely premature do not have significant learning and physical disabilities ...

[BigSkyFreeper]

I don't consider Cerebal Palsy a "problem". I guess that's what one would consider adapting.

[getitright]

Good to hear from you. Love your attitude. My twin nephews were born 7 weeks early in 1980. Both have CP to different degrees. They are the coolest kids I know.

[CindyDawg]

NEWSFLASH! More than half of all infants born extremely premature have no significant learning and physical disabilities by the time they reach school age, the largest such study has found.

and many that are born with disabilities are surviving and reaching school age.

[TXBubba]

And what is considered a "mild" disability? My hubby is blind without glasses is that a "mild" disability? And he was a month LATE.

[neverdem]

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list.

[BigSkyFreeper]

Some researchers I've read say that most kids with motor disabilities are the best and brightest kids. Cerebal Palsy DOES NOT affect learning. Cerebal Palsy is largely a motor disorder.

[Vn_survivor_67-68]

Normal pregnancy is 37 to 42 weeks.

(study cohort was) born between 22 and 25 weeks.

also worth noting, IMO